News Story

NSU Graduate Student Named Brad Henry International Scholar

TAHLEQUAH – Rachel Whitaker, a Northeastern State University graduate student in American Studies, was recently awarded a scholarship from the Brad Henry International Scholar Program for the Semester of Study Abroad. Whitaker was one of only 12 recipients in Oklahoma this year to receive this prestigious scholarship.

Whitaker, of Rose, Okla., will spend the fall semester at Swansea University in Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University is located on the seacoast in the southern part of Wales, approximately 40 miles south of Cardiff. She will be attending classes in the American Studies program within the School of Humanities.

American Studies at Swansea is a broad-based inter-disciplinary degree, which is among the most challenging choices for students interested in the liberal arts and social sciences. The department is one of the leading centers for American Studies in the UK and offers a wide range of courses in American literature, history and politics and popular culture at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

“I am very interested in comparing the perspectives of the American Studies program here at NSU with the American Studies program in the United Kingdom,” said Whitaker. “I am very excited about being granted this opportunity to study overseas.”

While not studying for her graduate classes at NSU, Whitaker works in the Access Services Department at NSU’s John Vaughan Library.

“Rachel is such a wonderful candidate for this scholarship. She is so bright and energetic, and she will be the perfect representative for Northeastern State University and the state of Oklahoma in this wonderful international program,” said Tom Messner, interim director of Libraries. “We will miss her in the library this fall, but look forward to hearing of her experiences this spring when she returns.”

The Brad Henry International Scholar program, cooperatively developed by the Governors office and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education provides opportunities for Oklahoma students to study overseas in some of the most exciting international programs available today.